Filing for divorce is often traumatic, and forces people to enter into an area of the law that most of them are not very familiar with. Family lawyers can help. They deal with people considering divorce on a daily basis, and the know all the ins and outs of the law and what you need to do to secure the best outcome for you and your family.

Everyone’s situation is different, but there are a number of things that hold true for just about anybody who is thinking about getting a divorce. Below, our experienced family attorneys share their secrets about Florida family law, how to choose the best lawyer for you, how to communicate with your ex, and other habits that can drastically affect your upcoming court case.

Staying on Top of Your Ex’s Finances is Key. It is not uncommon for parties in a divorce to try and hide assets, income, or other parts of their finances that could be potentially split during divorce proceedings. This could be done for a variety of reasons: your ex may fear having to pay alimony or child support payments, may be attached to certain assets, or may want to relinquish certain debts onto you.

A lawyer can help you to collect the evidence and records you will need. That way, you’ll make sure that the financial situation for both of you is fair and equitable.

Make Big Purchases Before Filing for Divorce. Thinking of making a big investment in the next few months? If you’re about to file for divorce, you may want to make that investment now.

After a couple files for divorce, many states put a temporary restraining order (TRO) in place restricting each party from making certain financial arrangements or purchases that would greatly affect divorce proceedings. The idea is that this will prevent either party from clearing out a joint bank account or transferring assets out of spite and leaving the other party high and dry.

In Florida, these orders are not immediately put in place, but the state only requires the involvement of one party to put them in place. In other words, your spouse could file for a TRO and it could be put in place without your knowledge or agreement. Temporary restraining orders can also restrict someone from other actions, including having contact with the person filing the TRO or moving out of the state.

It’s often recommended that couples split their joint accounts before filing for divorce, but depending on your situation, you may want to plan ahead by making other financial decisions, purchases, and transfers before you file.

On the flip side, if you’re worried about your spouse clearing out joint bank accounts or making big financial decisions out of spite after filing for divorce, talk to your attorney about filing a temporary restraining order against them.

Social Media Posts Can Destroy a Divorce Ruling. If you think your ex is hiding assets from you or not fully disclosing your finances, it is crucial to look for information that might reveal your full financial situation to a judge. This type of information can be (and has been) exposed in court through text messages, e-mails, or social media.

That’s right. Tweets and Facebook posts are fair game, and should be examined with your lawyer for hints or clues about any fraudulent activity (or straight up lies).

Mediation is Usually Worth It. Hiring a third-party mediator (or a lawyer who is qualified to act as a mediator) often helps couples divide property and assign parenting duties quicker than lawyers and a courtroom will.

Not all decisions can be decided through divorce mediation, and strong emotions may get in the way of allowing mediation to happen in the first place. But it can be a valuable option for couples who are willing to set their differences aside and come to mutual decisions before filing for divorce.

….And So Is the Free Legal Advice. Many lawyers offer potential clients a free initial consultation or case review. When you see these, you might ask yourself what the catch is.

But there is no catch.

Lawyers find these free consultations just as beneficial as potential clients do. They do not want to undergo the stress of paperwork or taking on a client that may not be worth their time. So they use these free consultations to learn about your situation and decide whether or not you have a good case – just like you use the meetings to determine if you want to work with them or not.

Take advantage of this. Get multiple opinions, and make the best decision based on your situation. And remember…

You Don’t Have to Break the Bank for an Experienced Family Lawyer

While you are “shopping” for different lawyers, be sure to talk about pricing and how you will be charged. Florida Family Law Clinic works with experienced and knowledgeable family attorneys who have chosen to offer their services at a reduced price because they believe everyone should be able to utilize high-quality family legal services regardless of income level.

Our lawyers can help with divorce proceedings, domestic violence cases, child custody and support rulings, post-divorce litigation, and more. Get in contact today for a free 20 minute phone consultation.

For your convenience, we offer evening and weekend appointments, and accept all major credit cards.Take the first steps to protecting the rights, well-being, and future of yourself and the ones you love. Contact us today for your free 20 minute phone consultation and to learn about our low-cost family law services.